White House: There are many arguments for a strike on Iran, they’d be wise to make a deal

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says “a little bit of progress” was made during yesterday’s Iran nuclear talks, but that the sides are “still very far apart on some issues.”

“The Iranians are expected to come back to us with some more detail in the next couple of weeks, so the president will continue to watch how this plays out,” Leavitt adds.

The press secretary makes the comments during a press briefing at the White House, where she is also asked why the US believes a strike is necessary if President Donald Trump claims that Washington already “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program in June strikes on three of Tehran’s sites.

“There are many reasons and arguments one could make for a strike against Iran,” Leavitt responds without elaborating.

“The president, as commander in chief, had a very successful operation. Midnight Hammer totally obliterated Iran’s nuclear facilities,” she continues, referring to the June strikes.

“The president has been very clear with respect to Iran and any country around the world that diplomacy is always his first option and Iran would be very wise to make a deal,” she adds, declining to offer a deadline.

The message is a repeat of what the US has given in different variations for weeks as the world awaits a decision from Trump on whether he will authorize another strike on Iran.